PORTSMOUTH, Va.  –   PORTSMOUTH, Va. (October 18, 2021) – Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP)’s Labor and Delivery unit has been recognized for superior care of their patients.

The National Perinatal Information Center (NPIC) released data covering October 2019 to September 2020 which highlighted NMCP’s low primary cesarean delivery rate and their significantly low severe maternal morbidity rate.

“These are two very important markers for quality of care,” said Lt. Cmdr. Julie Whittington, NMCP Labor and Delivery department head. “For women undergoing delivery at our facility, they can be confident that the care they are receiving is exceptional.”

According to their website, NPIC has been working with civilian and military hospitals, patient safety organizations, insurers and researchers to collect and interpret the data that drives better outcomes for mothers and newborns for the past 30 years. When data is translated into useful information, the opportunity to transform quantitative data into qualitative improvements becomes a reality.

A large portion of the data canvased in the NPIC report came from a year stricken by the pandemic. Even so, the numbers proved the team continued to devote themselves to providing the best and safest experience for their patience by flexing and adapting on the fly.

“Labor and delivery cares for patients 365 days a year, seven days a week, pandemic or no pandemic,” said Whittington. “I am so proud of the team of physicians, midwives, nurses and corpsmen that put our patients first, every day.”

Although this data was released recently, it is only a reflection of NMCP’s history of excellence in care, especially in labor and delivery.

“NMCP has provided high quality obstetric care for many, many years. We, as a group, strive to practice evidence based medicine. We have led the Department of Defense in utilization of postpartum hemorrhage bundles with 100% compliance, and hypertensive emergency bundles, some of which were trialed here at NMCP first,” added Whittington. “We lead from the front. There isn’t a single person to credit. It truly has been a multidisciplinary effort from all hands.”

As the U.S. Navy's oldest, continuously-operating military hospital since 1830, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth proudly serves past and present military members and their families. The nationally-acclaimed, state-of-the-art medical center, along with the area's 10 branch health and TRICARE Prime Clinics, provide care for the Hampton Roads area. The medical center also supports premier research and teaching programs designed to prepare new doctors, nurses and hospital corpsman for future roles in healing and wellness.